Improvement in methods of fastening cotton-bales



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AueusrrNn BALDWIN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., AssreNon rro ooMrREssrNo COMPANY, on SAME PLAGE.

IMPROVEMENT IN MiETHODS OF FASTENING COTTON-BALES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 159,378, dated February 2, 1875; application lled July 22, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AUGUSTINE BALDWIN, of New York, in the county o-f New York and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Methods of l Fastening Cotton-Bales; andAI do hereby dethe fastening-devices to cotton or other bales,

and consists, broadly, in the employment of the power of the press used to compress the bale to apply the covering parts of the fastening devices tightly to the bale, as will be fully described hereinafter.

In the drawings, Figure l is a view in elevation of the method of employing the power of the press to apply the fastening devices 5 Fig. 2, a perspective view of one of the plates, and Fig. 3 a partial view of a modified form.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will now proceed to describe fully its construction and manner of operation.

A A represent the platens of any suitable press, which are provided, preferably, with the blocks'a a, the inner face of each of which is preferably inclined outward from the bottom upward, and provided with a rounded or beveled corner, a', at its point of union with the platen, as shown. These blocks are made adjustable upon the face of the platen, to adapt them for proper action upon bales of different Widths. I preferably employ for this purpose a double-acting' screw, as shown in the drawings. If desired, the blocks may be provided with a roller, as shown in Fig. 3, for the purpose of reducing the friction between the block and the fastening devices.

Any suitable fastening device may be employed in connection with my improved method, it being essential only that the covering portions should be in two independent parts for the top and bottom of the bale, and that these independent parts should be united upon each side of the bale.

The method of applying the fastening device is as follows: The covering portion, which may consist ofcaps formed of a sheetmetal plate, or a system `of bauds, or single independent straps of suitable length, is placed upon the top and bottom surfaces of the bale in any suitable manner. The latter being then compressed by the action of the press, the covering portions of the fastening device are applied tightly to its surfaces by the power of the press itself, which, in consequence of the blocks a a, is adapted to act as a die-punch upon the fastening devices and shape them accurately to the bale, which latter serves as aformer.

By means of the blocks, also, the side portions Of the fastening devices are held in proper position to be secured by the ties or other proper fastenin gs used. If desired, the platens may have blocks at the ends, also, to operate upon the ends of the covering devices.v

The advantages of this method will be readily perceived from the foregoing description.

When the fastening devices are applied to the bale by hand, in the usual manner, it is absolutely impossible, even by the exercise ot' the greatest strength, to draw them so tightly that expansion to a serious extent will not occurwhen the bale is removed from the press, but when applied by the power of the press in the manner described, they are lit-ted accurately and tightly to its surfaces, so that when their edges are secured there is no slack metal of any consequence-to expand.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, land desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. rEhe described method of applying the fastening devices to cotton or other bales,

consisting, broadly, in the employment of i the powerused to compress the bale to apply the covering parts of the fastening devices thereto, substantially as described.

' 2. A press-platen adapted for operation as a die, substantially as described, for the purpose of shaping the fastening devices to the bale, and holding the same in proper position` to be secured.

V3.. The platens described, provided with This specification signed and witnessed this beveled or rounded edged blocks or bars a a, 20th day of July, 187 4. as described.

4. The combination of the smooth-faced platens with the bars or blocks a a, and Witnesses: means for adjusting them, substantially as CHARLES NETTLETON, described. J. WILSON PosT.

AUGUSTINE BALDWIN. 

